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Madhya Pradesh in Hindi can be translated as Central Province and it is located in the geographic heart of India. The state straddles the Narmada River, which runs east and west between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges.
These ranges and the Narmada are the traditional boundary between the north and south of India. The state is bordered on the west by Gujarat, on the northwest by Rajasthan, on the northeast by Uttar Pradesh, on the east by Chhattisgarh and on the south by Maharashtra.
Madhya Pradesh comprises several linguistically and culturally distinct regions including:
Malwa: a plateau region in the northwest of the state, north of the Vindhya Range, with a distinct language and culture. Indore is the major city of the region, while Bhopal lies on the edge of Bundelkhand region. Ujjain is a town of historical importance.
Nimar (Nemar): the western portion of the Narmada River valley, lying south of the Vindhyas in the southwest portion of the state.
Bundelkhand: a region of rolling hills and fertile valleys in the northern part of the state, which slopes down toward the Indo-Gangetic plain to the north. Gwalior is a historic center of the region.
Chambal: the north-western region. A mountainous region known for murderous bandits who were active in hundreds until the 1980s.
Baghelkhand: a hilly region in the northeast of the state which includes the eastern end of the Vindhya Range.
Mahakoshal (Mahakaushal): the southeastern portion of the state which includes the eastern end of the Narmada river valley and the eastern Satpuras. Jabalpur is the most important city in the region.
Districts:
Anuppur, Ashoknagar, Balaghat, Barwani, Betul, Bhind, Bhopal, Burhanpur, Chhatarpur, Chhindwara, Damoh, Datia, Dewas, Dhar, Dindori, Guna, Gwalior, Harda, Hoshangabad, Indore, Jabalpur, Jhabua, Katni, Khandwa, Khargone, Mandla, Mandsaur, Morena, Narsinghpur, Neemuch, Panna, Raisen, Rajgarh, Ratlam, Rewa, Sagar, Satna, Sehore, Seoni, Shahdol, Shajapur, Sheopur, Shivpuri, Sidhi, Tikamgarh, Ujjain, Umaria, Vidisha.
Rivers:
Madhya Pradesh represents great river basins and the watershed of a number of rivers. The Narmada, Tapti, Godavari, Mahanadi, Ganga and Yamuna are the main rivers. The first four originate from the hill ranges of Madhya Pradesh.
The Yamunas tributaries in Madhya Pradesh are the Chambal, Sipra, Kali Sind, Parbati, Kuno, Sind, Betwa, Dhasan and Ken. The Gangas tributaries include Son, Tons and Rihand. The Narmadas tributaries are Banjar, Tawa, Machna, Denwa and the Sonbhardra rivers.
The Indrawati, Wainganga, Wardha, Pench, Kanhan and Penganga are other rivers. |
